LIVE broadcasts from the London stage, an evening with a West End leading lady and the return of a comedy classic headline a theatre’s newly unveiled spring season.

The Gala Theatre, in Durham City, is screening a series of live performances from the capital’s National Theatre (NT) as part of the NT Live project.

Arthur Wing Pinero’s The Magistrate, starring John Lithgow, launches the season on Thursday night (January 17) and further screenings are planned for March and May.

Meanwhile, Ruthie Henshall, one of theatre’s most respected performers, will host An Intimate Evening With on Saturday, February 16, during which she will discuss her career and perform some of her best-loved songs.

The show, penned by the original writers and fresh from a third West End run, finds PM Jim Hacker and Cabinet Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby battling austerity measures, 24-hour news, Blackberrys and ‘sexed up’ dossiers.

It will have a one-week run at the Gala – the only opportunity to see the production in the North-East.

For younger audiences, Mavis Sparkle will launch a series of children’s productions. February will kick off with the London Community Gospel Choir, The Coal Porters and Clare Teal will follow in mid-March and the English Touring Opera will arrive in April with Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte and Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra.

Robin Byers, the Gala’s programming and operations manager, said: “As well as offering plenty for our loyal audiences to enjoy, we think that this season offers a whole host of exciting events to tempt new customers to Gala for the first time.”

For more information, call the box office on 0191-332-4041 or visit galadurham.co.uk